Covid-19: Indonesian woman is sole Delta variant case in Sibu, say cops

SIBU: A 29-year-old Indonesian woman who entered Sarawak illegally has been identified as the sole Covid-19 Delta variant case detected here, say authorities.

Sibu OCPD Asst Comm Stanley Jonathan Ringgit said the woman had sneaked into the state through jalan tikus (illegal routes) from Pontianak with a 22-year old male compatriot on July 5.

"They entered the state through jalan tikus from Pontianak then boarded a lorry to Sibu," he said on Thursday (July 22).

ACP Stanley said the woman had been detained at Hospital Sibu since July 7, after testing positive for Covid-19 from a PCR test on the same day.

However, the man tested negative for the virus and has been quarantined at a hotel for 21 days also, he added.

He said both illegal immigrants will be detained under Section 55E/6 (1) of the Immigration Act, 1959/63 once they leave the quarantine centre.

Sibu Divisional Disaster Management Committee (SDDMC) in a statement yesterday said the Indonesian woman tested positive for the Delta variant after samples were sent to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak on July 12.